Commonwealth Games 2014: Triathlon star Helen Jenkins warms up for Glasgow by moving to second in world rankings

Helen Jenkins finished second to Gwen Jorgensen at the ITU World Triathlon event in Chicago

Former world champion Helen Jenkins finished second to Gwen Jorgensen at the ITU World Triathlon event in Chicago.

Jenkins led for much of the run but was chased down by a fantastic run from Jorgensen.

The Bridgend star’s performance moves her up to second in the ITU World Triathlon Series whilst Jorgensen, the pre race home favourite, extends her lead at the top of the rankings.

The choppy, non-wetsuit swim separated the athletes out during the swim and Jenkins got into a lead group without Jorgensen.

By the start of the run she had a minute advantage over the American, but it proved not to be enough when Jorgensen took the lead on the fourth and final lap.

Jenkins finished ahead of Japan’s Juri Ide to secure the silver medal and her third podium finish of an excellent season.

“I knew she was catching and because it was so hot and humid, and I’m not great in the humidity,” said Jenkins.

“I was really was just trying to keep myself together keep myself in one piece. I couldn’t afford to back down because I knew Gwen was coming.”

Jenkins pushed the pace for much of the bike leg, but it wasn’t enough to keep Jorgensen from claiming the sixth World Triathlon Series victory of her career, making her the most successful female athlete ever in the Series.

“We tried to keep pushing,” added Jenkins.

“It’s a really tough course to keep a group working because there are so many dead turns. I loved the swim today, I had a good swim, it was so choppy, it was great fun!”

Jenkins is in fine form ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next month where she is carrying Welsh medal hopes especially following the injury to current world champion Non Stanford who has been ruled out.

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Jenkins and current world champion Non Stanford are joined by up and coming Holly Lawrence in the Team Wales triathlon women squad, while Morgan Davies, Liam Lloyd and Alex Matchett are included in the men’s party

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